Author's Note: I own no person, no place, no thing – outside the plot. If you recognize it, it probably belongs to Ms. Rowling or some other awesome super-human.

P.S. Sorry it's taken me so long to update this. My other story, ARL, has been consuming my mind. But not to worry, I know exactly where this tale is headed – straight to the bedroom. That's right folks, smut alert. No like the smut? Not old enough to get into R-Rated movies? Probably shouldn't read this.

ajc

Chapter Three: Coffee and Muffins

Fred knew he'd done the right thing when he'd sat up and pulled Hermione up into a sitting position next to him instead of leaping in to yank her clothes off and sink himself inside her. Godric knew he wanted to, but Fred was more concerned with finding a way to keep Hermione by his side than he was with getting his physical needs tended to. They'd sat staring at each other for just a moment, and then Hermione had broken into a huge, face-splitting smile. Fred returned her smile, and then started laughing. Hermione started giggling, and Fred had wrapped his arms around her and hugged her to him as hard as he could.

"Fred! Argh, you're squishing me!" Hermione had squawked, flapping her arms and legs against him. They'd laughed and struggled and rolled around on the couch, him tickling her and her squirming and –

Crrrr-ack! Hermione's prototype glasses broke under the weight of their combined bodies rolling on top of them when they hit the floor.

Now Fred was sitting on the couch inspecting the two halves of her prototype glasses and using one like a monocle to view the transfigured items she'd left out earlier.

Brilliant. The girl was bloody brilliant.

He propped his foot up on the table to view his orange-on-magenta snitch socks Hermione had made him. Hmm. Well damn, the socks looked exactly the same.

"'Mione!"

"Freddie!"

"Your glasses are broken!"

"No kidding, you git, we squashed them. I should have a new pair ready by tomorrow evening though."

"But look!" He handed her the other half of the frames to view his sock. "See, they didn't work on the socks you made me."

"Fred, you idiot, those socks aren't transfigured! I knitted them," Hermione said as she rolled her eyes.

Fred turned slowly to face her. "You knitted me twenty pairs of socks?" he asked cautiously.

"Uh, yes?"

"By hand?"

"Well, I used magic to get the needles moving faster, but I figured out how to knit back in school when I was making all those hats and whatnot for S.P.E.W. It's one of my lesser known talents," Hermione sniffed proudly.

Fred's mind was in chaos. How did one girl manage to achieve the utmost of perfection in his eyes so easily? "Blimey, 'Mione, I think I love you," he said as seriously as he could, but then he leapt in and pinned her to the couch again and started licking her face, completely eradicating any over-thinking on her part. After a few minutes of heated snogging combined with furious giggling, Fred finally reminded himself that he needed to be a gentleman and permit Hermione the chance to go to bed on her own.

Hermione looked at Fred as he escorted her to her bedroom door, just a few paces away from his own. She desperately wanted to continue what they'd started on the sofa, but when it came down to it, she simply wasn't experienced enough in that department to just offer herself up like an after-dinner mint. Standing on her tiptoes, she kissed him good night and slipped inside her room before she could change her mind.

Fred stared at her closed bedroom door for about five seconds, then retreated to their living room to gather his bags and took them to his own bedroom to unpack. He wasn't in the least bit tired, and of course his libido was in no way ready to passively call it a night, so after a few minutes of trying to ignore the ache in his trousers he set himself off in the direction of a very hot, very pleasurable shower.

Fred rested his head against the cool tile of the shower wall as his body relaxed in post-orgasmic exhaustion. Damn that woman. Georgie was right, he was in love with Hermione Granger.

/…../

The next morning started like any other morning in Friday Harbor for Fred and Hermione. He woke and sniffed happily at the air coming through his open window, and she brought him coffee in bed.

Smiling slyly at her boss – lover – friend… at Fred, Hermione handed over his favorite banana slug patterned coffee mug and stood back to watch his eyes boggle out of his head when he noticed that his coffee was bright pumpkin orange.

"What is this? Ambrosia straight from Weasley Heaven?" Fred asked as he sipped from his mug. It was bliss. Perfection in a cup. A drink that had truly been specifically one hundred percent made for Frederick Gideon Weasley and no one else.

"Do you like it?"

"Merlin, Hermione. It's like a cup of liquid amortentia. Are you sure this is just coffee? Because I think I'm in love!" Fred grinned at his roommate/possible new girlfriend – wait a second… Fred took another sip, and looked at Hermione again. "This isn't spiked with anything else is it? You didn't put a love potion or anything in here did you?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. Leave it to Fred to not trust wildly appealing new food offerings. Of course, being a Weasley twin, that distrust was more of a survival strategy than outright paranoia. "No, Freddie, it's not spiked. I just knew you'd like it, so I got it for you."

"Gods, 'Mione, how do you do it?"

"Do what?"

Fred sat his mug down, and took her mug away from her. "Blow me away with your thoughtfulness. And your brilliance. And your sense of humor. And that sweet little arse of yours that better not be wearing my underwear right now!" he said as he pulled her onto his lap and wickedly pushed her nightgown up to sneak a peek.

"Possibly," Hermione quipped as she ducked down to kiss him good morning. The quick flirty peck that she'd planned to bestow immediately morphed to the wildy arousing snogging they'd engaged in last night on the sofa. Fred's mouth was just too perfectly delicious and warm and perfectly suited to her own for Hermione's instincts to do anything but spiral straight out of control and into shag-me-now mode.

Fred contemplated, as his lips tangled with Hermione's, just how far and how fast they should progress their burgeoning relationship this morning – and then Hermione groaned and wriggled against his happy morning erection, and Fred decided that rapid progression was definitely needed. His hands pushed her nightgown up her hips, and then he grasped her there, and wriggled right back at her.

Hermione broke away from Fred's tantalizing mouth to gasp in a breath of air as she felt her core heat up and soak her knickers at the feeling of Fred's lower region pushing so decisively against hers. She looked her roommate in the eyes and groaned out, "Yesssss," as she pushed her thighs down harder against him, rolling her hips a little to increase the friction right –

"Holy Merlin, love, do that again!" Fred hissed out between clenched teeth as Hermione flexed against his straining cock. He clenched her hips even tighter as he push-pulled her against him, bucking his hips in time to her movements.

Hermione wound her hands into Fred's blazing orange locks, which were currently highlighted by the morning sun streaming in through his open window. She gazed at her companion in aching lust and wonder as her instincts took over her lower body's movements. Limited experience or no, this thing that she and Freddie were getting into… right… now… "Oh, my- Oh! Gods that feels so-", well, it felt bloody amazing. Fred was pushing her nightgown up over her belly and up her torso, and before Hermione could even consider whether or not she should be protesting, he'd exposed her breasts to the morning sun.

Fred gazed for a brief moment at the tightened peaks of Hermione's rose-colored nipples, so beautiful and hard with want, and attacked. He dove in and captured one in his mouth while his right hand wrapped around her bottom to drag her body in closer to him. His left hand crept up her body to tease and explore her free breast as Hermione groaned and shuddered against him.

"Freddie! Gods that's so good! Please – OH!" Hermione gasped as her new lover bit her nipple, and her hands clenched tighter into his hair as another wave of lust and fire swept over her. She wailed in protest though, when Fred released her sensitized nipple and rose up to look her in the eye. "Don't stop, Fred, please!" Hermione begged as she pushed her shaking chest flush against his. The skin on skin contact was delicious, and both of them groaned in anticipation of what was, potentially, ahead. She met his eyes and saw her own burning need reflected there, but also there was – what? Determination? Yes, determination, and, adorably, hope. His eyes looked so hopeful and lust crazed that her heart thumped rather loudly in her chest.

Hermione's brain and body rejoiced as she gazed into his eyes, and without hesitation, she accepted the fact that she didn't just have a burning crush on this man, she was top over teakettle in love. With Fred Weasley.

Damn straight she was! Freddie was magnificent in every way; he funny and strong and sexy and wickedly smart. The more she'd gotten to know her boss and roommate over the past few months, the more she came to see that this man - that she was currently dry-humping like an over-sexed teenaged Weasley Men Fanclub member, which honest-to-Godric actually did exist, thanks to Rita Skeeter and Witch Weekly - had been divinely made specifically for her.

"'Mione, as an upstanding Weasley Gentleman I am bound to ask you a few rather delicate questions before I can proceed," Fred interrupted her mental meanderings. He wrapped his arms around her to still her body before he lost his senses entirely.

"Huh?" Hermione asked as her mind and body struggled to catch up with Fred's declaration.

"Hermione," Fred started again as soon as he felt Hermione's attention resting fully on his attempt at conversation. This was far more bloody difficult than it sounded in theory, but Fred's father and older brothers had set him and George down at their fifteenth birthday and made them swear to uphold the Weasley Gentlemen's Code.

A Weasley Gentleman does not sow his oats in every available skirted female that walks by. A Weasley Gentleman does not take what is not given in love – or at least extremely close to love in a fully committed relationship – preferably marriage. A Weasley Gentleman always, always, always, is one hundred percent responsible for the casting of all contraceptive charms. The secondary reason behind this code of sexual ethics was to preserve their family's respectability, but the primary reason was simply because Weasley Gentlemen were extremely fertile.

Case in point: Arthur Weasley's seven children.

Fred cleared his throat, and tried for the third time to get the words out.

"Hermione Granger, I want you to know that I respect and admire you, and that I – obviously – would like our relationship to progress forward, er, physically, as soon as bloody possible. But I have to ask you, have you done this before? And, do you trust me?"

Hermione cocked her head to the side as she processed Fred's words, then blushed furiously as she nodded her head. "Yes, to both, Freddie. And, er, right back at you, you know, with the other part," she said shyly. Moving forward, physically, was her primary agenda for the morning, which seemed rather obvious since her nightgown was still scrunched up into her underarms as her naked breasts pressed wantonly into Fred's collarbones.

Fred blushed as he took in Hermione's subtle extended invitation. She wanted this, all the way. Godric's Ghost, but Freddie was in rather unchartered territory. He'd lost his virginity a couple years ago with his last girlfriend, Alicia Spinnet, but she'd been rather reluctant and guilty about the whole thing, and had broken up with Fred shortly after the second time they'd been intimate. That had been rather disappointing, and Fred had been left wondering if he'd made a huge mistake by getting intimate with his former girlfriend. Then the War had started in earnest and all thoughts of sex had been swept to the side.

But Fred didn't see or feel any reluctance in Hermione. All he saw in her eyes was desire, curiosity, and, adorably, hope. She gazed at him in hopeful wonder, and Fred's love for her grew. "'Mione, will you be mine, then? My girlfriend, that is," Fred asked as his hands drifted up her back to tug at her curls.

Hermione took him by surprise when, instead of blushing, simpering or cooing at him like Alicia had done when he'd asked her, she snorted and rolled her eyes. "Freddie, I think it's rather obvious that I would love to be your girlfriend. I'm not sitting here rubbing myself all over you because I'm covered in poison oak, you know. And why else would I allow a grown man to spend so much time playing with my knickers?" she said with a grin. Then she pulled her fingers down from his hair to cup his jaw, and kissed him softly. "Yes," she whispered against his lips, "I thought you'd never ask." Then she brazenly leaned back and pulled her nightgown over her head, then, before her bravery could abandon her, she grabbed Fred's forearms and dragged them down until his hands were resting on her hips again.

Fred clutched at her knickers and leaned up to capture her lips with his own once more, and tugged her hips into his, rocking into her again in the same movements they'd begun earlier. "Brilliant! In that case…" Fred said, and picked Hermione up and threw her down in the center of his bed. He clambered on top of her giggling form, and shocked her when he immediately ducked in and snagged the edge of her magenta knickers in his fingers and teeth and dragged them down her legs.

Hermione's eyes widened as she watched Fred rip the last bit of her clothing off, then reach for his wand. This was really happening! She knew she only had a few moments to decide whether or not she was ready to engage in actual sex this morning with Fred. Hmm… Then Fred shucked his pajama pants, and Hermione's mind was immediately made up. His lean, toned body rippled with muscle and lust and a charming smattering of freckles that she'd gladly spend the next few weeks counting, hopefully while naked. The sight of his erection, thick and proud and magnificent, actually made her mouth water. Hermione had never found the male anatomy to be physically attractive – functional, yes – but attractive? No. But Fred had a gorgeous cock, and Hermione couldn't wait to get her hands – and other parts – on it.

She sat up and reached for him. Fred groaned as a fog of lust descended over his brain. Hermione Granger had her hands wrapped around his – "Holy Merlin, 'Mione!" He covered her hands with his free one, pausing her curious fingers from teasing him any further. He placed the tip of his wand against her abdomen and whispered the contraceptive charm his father had taught him. It was a customized charm that had been developed several generations ago by a distant Weasley Uncle after the birth of his eleventh child. Once the spell had been uttered and the glow on her belly had subsided, Fred threw his wand down and released her hands to continue exploring him.

"Freddie?" Hermione whispered in a breathy voice as she slipped her fingers up and down on his velvety length. She sat sprawled on his bed in front of him, legs open, knees bent, ready to- Fred suddenly leaned in and pressed her backwards into the mattress. He loomed over her and delicately kissed her pretty pink mouth.

"Yes, 'Mione?" he asked as he settled his weight on top of her. They both shuddered at the intimacy of the full body contact, and Hermione moaned as Fred moved his hips, just so, to settle his glorious erection against her heat.

"Knock knock!" a voice called from the base of the stairwell. Hermione and Fred's heads snapped up and their eyes widened in horror as they heard the distinctive skipping step of Sunny tripping up the stairs into their flat. Fred scrambled up and grabbed for his pajama bottoms, and Hermione ducked into her nightgown just as Sunny popped her head into Fred's bedroom doorway.

"Good morning Fred and Hermione! I brought you some muffins that Rick made this morning! Oh my, it smells like sex in here! Did I interrupt? Oh dear, I did, didn't I?" Sunflower sang cheerily as she held out a small basket of cranberry pumpkin muffins.

Hermione flushed and stammered a good morning to her co-worker, and Fred dragged his hands down his face in amused frustration as he willed his erection to take a hike. "Hey there, Sunflower," he groaned through his fingers. Then he opened his eyes and smiled ruefully at his employee. "Thank you for the muffins. That was very thoughtful," he continued.

Hermione stood up off the bed then, and reached out for the basket. "These will be perfect with our coffee, thank you Sunny," she said as she picked up her coffee mug and directed their friend out towards the kitchen.

Fred heard Hermione ask Sunny if she'd like to try the new pumpkin coffee flavor she'd picked up last week, and he pulled a clean t-shirt out of his bureau as he heard Sunny agree. Within a few more minutes, the three of them sat at the kitchen table, chatting about the success of Sunny's pastel puffs and Hermione's new prototype glasses over muffins and coffee.

Sunny finished her coffee and popped out of her chair to rinse her mug in the sink. "Rick and I are taking Poppy camping down at Watmough Bay on Lopez Island tonight. We wanted to see if you two would like to join us. It's got a gorgeous view of Mt. Baker on the mainland, and we're bringing hot dogs and marshmallows for the fire."

Fred looked at Hermione, who nodded eagerly. "We'd love to, Sunny. Thank you. What time are you lot taking the ferry over?"

/…../

Hermione stood at the kitchen sink, washing mugs and plates as Fred escorted Sunny downstairs and outside. They were going to meet up with Sunny and her family in a mere three hours at the ferry terminal. In the meantime, there was packing and shopping to get done, not to mention the business notes she needed to go over with Fred before the shop opened again on Tuesday morning. There was simply no time now to continue what they'd so eagerly started back in his bedroom.

Hermione wondered to herself if it was possible to die of unfulfilled sexual agony.

"'Mione?"

Hermione whipped around to see the object of her unfulfilled lust standing in the kitchen doorway. Fred's hair was still tousled from sleep and from their morning antics, and his pajama pants hung a tad too low on his hips to be entirely appropriate. Hermione hissed in a breath of longing and tried to arrange her thoughts in a manner that would prevent her from stripping out her nightgown and wrestling Fred down onto the table top.

"Fred?" she squeaked, then coughed to clear her throat.

Fred grinned wolfishly at his new girlfriend, and held up two fingers. "Your choice, love. Now, or later? Red blooded male that I am, I personally vote for both. But honestly I don't think we've got time for now. However, I aim to please, and have no problem accommodating you either way."

Hermione nodded mutely and weighed her options as she watched Fred prowl across the room towards her. Decisions, decisions… Fred stopped directly in front of her, and Hermione pressed herself backwards against the counter. Sweet Circe, when did he get so tall?

"Now! No, you're right, we don't have time… Um, later? No, both. I mean, no, wait." Hermione pushed her hands against Fred's chest to keep him from coming any closer. "Freddie, I – well, I don't have enough experience with this sort of thing to make a professional decision. So, in order to make the most of this, do you mind if we wait?" Hermione bit her lip as she looked up at her boss – lover – boyfriend… at Fred, and then smiled shyly. "I hope you don't mind?" she asked.

Fred smirked down at his edible little assistant. "Not at all, 'Mione. I'd rather you get the full opportunity to savor the Fred Weasley Experience, which might not be so easy if I just propped you up on the counter and shagged you against the dish rack."

Hermione quirked an eyebrow and whistled appreciatively. "The Fred Weasley Experience? Sounds like quite the event. Should I pack fireworks and pom-poms?"

"Absolutely. Well, actually I have no idea. I'm being completely blasé about this to hide the fact that I have very little experience myself and am incredibly nervous about my ability to perform adequately." Fred said airily as he stepped to the side to lean against the counter next to her.

Hermione laughed in relief. Fred grinned at her mirth, then knocked his shoulder into hers playfully. "Come on, you lazy girl. We've got work to do before we go, eh?"

To Be Continued.